'Time to clear the air': Some Liberal MPs want secret ballot vote on Trudeau's leadership

A growing number of Liberal caucus members are calling for a secret ballot vote to decide whether Justin Trudeau should step down as party leader.

Former cabinet minister and long-time Liberal MP Helena Jaczek is joining the growing number of caucus members calling for a secret ballot vote to decide whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should step down as leader of the party.

“I'm very much in favour of a secret ballot,” Jaczek told CTV News Channel host Vassy Kapelos in an interview Monday. “I think it's time that we clear the air.”

Pressure has been mounting for weeks for Trudeau to step down as party leader, culminating in a longer-than-usual caucus meeting last Wednesday, during which many MPs gave the prime minister a deadline — today — to reflect on his political future.

Many MPs expressed disappointment when Trudeau insisted, at a press conference just 18 hours later, that he’s not going anywhere.

Jaczek said while the caucus is united in its desire to defeat Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre in the next election, there is “clearly a diversity of views” on the question of who should lead the Liberals in that race.

Asked about Trudeau’s adamance after less than a day of reflection that he will not step down, Jaczek said those statements wouldn’t necessarily preclude further reflection. But when asked whether she believes that reflection is actually occurring, she wasn’t sure. “Honestly, I have no idea.

“I would hope that he is considering what he heard from his caucus, from a number of people in his caucus, I think that is significant,” Jaczek told Kapelos. “Our duty is to report to the prime minister what is going on in our constituencies, and a number of people shared that information.”